Broad Strokes

15 Women Who Made Art and Made History (in That Order)

By: Bridget Quinn

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Historically, major women artists have been excluded from the mainstream art canon. Aligned with the resurgence of feminism in pop culture, Broad Strokes offers an entertaining corrective to that omission. Art historian Bridget Quinn delves into the lives and careers of 15 brilliant female artists in this smart, feisty, educational, and enjoyable book.

This is art history from 1600 to the present day for the modern art lover and feminist.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2017 Bridgett Quinn (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

inspiration in art history

A more personal and inspirational read than just history. It was a pleasant surprise indeed.

Awesome and educational

When I saw this I was interested in the title. Then I was interested by the description. The. I listened to it and I was sucked into a captivating story

Fascinating introduction to artists and their work

I don't know a lot about art history but really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and accessible to the non-expert. Accounts of the 15 women included are interspersed with the author's personal stories, and her accounts of how she had encountered the various artists.

A pdf is included so you can see the art works being discussed.

Great book

Very enjoyable book. The reader had an interesting voice and the subject matter of women artists holds dear to my heart.

Great performance & book

I'm honestly a little confused as to why some have reacted so negatively to the performance. I thought the narrator did a great job and seemed to really master the authorial voice.

Great listen, I would highly recommend.

A. MAZ. ING!

Superb narration! I was introduced to many female artists unknown to me in a vivid way. I listened twice and enjoyed both times (I absorb more each time). I would also recommend the printed book since there will be visual representations that the author refers to.

Quinn shows that great women artist have always existed in the story, all we have to do is rewrite the book to include them.

If you want to change the way things exist, you don’t need to complain about it, you simply need to set about doing it. That is what Bridget Quinn has done in the inequity of women’s stories in art history. It isn’t shouting angrily from the pages about women vs. men in art. It is simply celebrating female artists, because they haven’t yet been celebrated. She has dutifully done the legwork of bringing overlooked stories to our attention so they can be added to the collective knowledge of the history of art. She shows that great women artist have always existed in the story, all we have to do is rewrite the book to include them.

The book is for women, for artists and for women who are artists

This book is also for any person who is willing to experience the way good writing and good insight prompts self awareness. Awareness of how each of us, creative, art making or not made us what we are. At the same time this is a wonderful book about art history. And at the same time this is a wonderful collection of artist biographies. Dry? Not at all! Written in the first person charming. By someone with a lot of credentials that could have made this a book to fall asleep by. Well… I didn’t dare use this audible book for purposes of drifting off to dreamland. Because it kept me alert and searching for the images of these starkly courageous women. into all hours of the night. It’s that interesting. Both the art and the women’s life stories. You don’t need to know anything about art to enjoy this book.

Avoid this audio book!

This is a good compilation of women artists spanning over 4 centuries and covering known as well as somewhat obscure women artists. It borders on being pedantic in it's handling of the private lives of the artists but I don't think it overstates the impact of the patriarchy on their lives. I learned quite a bit particularly about the lesser known figures. Bridget Quinn has done a lot of homework and aside from some questionable assumptions presents her history, art critique and feminist ideas well. I would have enjoyed it much more had it not been for the choice of the narrator. Tavia Gilbert is perhaps the first narrator who made me seriously consider abandoning it entirely. With her incessant gasping [in 90% of the text] and her hammy emoting [she is not reading Shakespeare or a pulp romance] ones becomes quickly tired of her theatricality. She is reading history, not performing a one-woman show of what feminist history means to her. Read the book and avoid listening to this at all costs.

Engaging and authrtic

Not the usual stuffy art history book, a wonderful, informative, and personal story is being told. A more truthful look at art history by looking at the often overlooked women artists and discussing their lives, works, and impact.